#ListenUp for National Infertility Awareness Week

#ListenUp! In honor of National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW), April 23-29, our infertility specialists are trying to make infertility treatment more accessible to new patients. Often, taking the first step to schedule an appointment with a physician is a difficult one. Patients don’t know what to anticipate during the initial meeting. They may be intimidated and confused.

Drs. Jane Frederick, Daniel Potter, Sanaz Ghazal and Mickey Coffler hope to break down some of those barriers by providing the following specials during NIAW. New patients can respond on the doctors’ individual Facebook pages.

#ListenUp: So what happens during the initial consultation? Here’s what you should know about an initial consultation:

Your first impression
The initial consultation usually is the first meeting between you and the doctor (unless you met at one of our seminars) who will be your primary infertility specialist at HRC Fertility Orange County. Expect the appointment to last between 60-90 minutes. We encourage both partners to attend this meeting. You are in this together to make a baby!

Initial paperwork
Please try to complete the financial, administrative and medical history paperwork we send in the initial consultation packet. This includes other important documents to help us more effectively plan your care.

Become informed about your health insurance
It’s always a good idea to know what your insurance plan will pay for the diagnosis and treatment of infertility. We have experienced financial counselors who will work with you to figure out what will be covered as well as other options you can take to afford treatment.

Bring your medical records
If you have had previous diagnostic tests or treatment performed by an obstetrician/gynecologist or a reproductive endocrinologist, please arrange for the release of those records. You can either bring these records to the initial consultation or, better yet, have them sent before your appointment. You can save previous time and money with the receipt of these important documents. We do not want to repeat any unnecessary tests or procedures.
Reviewing your medical history
Your past records and the completed medical history forms will alert us to any health concerns or issues you and your partner might have. During the consultation, we will ask both partners about past medical problems, surgeries, and prescription medications they are using. With the female partner, we will discuss her OB history, previous infertility workups and treatments, and if her mother or sisters have had trouble conceiving.

We also want to know if the father-to-be has already fathered a child/gotten a woman pregnant and lifestyle factors that may affect his sperm. If he has already completed his semen analysis, the doctor will also go over those results as well.

Explaining and scheduling diagnostic testing
We will explain what each test entails and what the results will mean. For women, we will schedule blood work on day three of your menstrual cycle to evaluate your hormone levels and other key indicators of fertility, as well as an ultrasound to visualize your ovaries and pelvic cavity, and a hysterosalpingogram, a specialized x-ray to assess the anatomy of your fallopian tubes and uterus.

The male partner has it relatively simple. He must produce a semen sample to be evaluated.

Developing a roadmap to success
Our goal is to get you pregnant! The initial consultation is the first step in outlining your treatment options. Unless otherwise medically indicated, we proceed from low-tech (medication and/or intrauterine insemination) options to more complex, such as assisted reproductive technologies, including in vitro fertilization. We also discuss success rates based on age and diagnosis. We want you to feel comfortable with your treatment course.

We hope you leave the consultation with a positive viewpoint and a feeling that you are on the way to making your dreams come true.

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